Overhead door



Feb. 6, 1951 H; B. CLARK OVERHEAD DOOR Filed March l8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gi gling. i

H. B. CLARK OVERHEAD DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A T TORNEY Patented F e1). 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to doors of the so-called overhead type. These doors usually include a plurality of panel sections hingedly connected at their edges on horizontal axes so that the panel sections may be arranged in a common plane in a door opening for closing the door and may pivotally relatively move to permit raising of the panel sections and movement thereof from the vertical plane into a horizontal plane overhead for opening the door, the panel sections being mounted on rollers running in tracks.

One object of my invention is to provide such an overhead door with means for ingress and egress in the form of a small pass or wicket door. This pass door is so constructed that it will not interfere with the operation of the overhead door and may be used for the passage of an individual while the overhead door is in closed position.

Another object is to provide such a pass door that is easily operated and will securely close the passage in the overhead door.

Another object is to provide an improved hinge construction for connecting the pass door to the overhead door and for connecting the panel sections of the pass door to each other whereby said pass door may be swung on a vertical axis and its panel sections articulated for movement in an arcuate path.

Other objects are to provide a nove1 and improved construction for overhead doors whereby the hinges may be applied to the panel sections at the factory and panel sections may be coupled easily and quickly at the site of installation, and to provide an improved hinge construction that is simple, rugged and inexpensive, and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding and like parts are designated throughout the several views by the same reference characters- Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of an overhead door embodying my invention showing the door in closed position.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of a pair of adjacent hinges.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the hinges shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1.

, Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 11 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a leaf of one of the hinges of Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of another form of hinge leaf.

Referring to the drawings, a sectional door of the overhead type is shown in Figure l comprising five panel sections A, B, C, D and E. Each of the sections A, B, C and D comprises a pair of stiles I, a pair of rails 2 and a pair of mullions 3, all of which are preferably formed of wood and support glass panels 4. The lower panel section is formed of wooden panels 5.

For reinforcing the panel sections and attaching hinges and roller mountings to the panel sections, I apply an angle bar, preferably of metal, to each rail 2 of adjacent sections, with one flange 6 thereof lying against the side of the panel section and the other flange 1 lying along the edge of the panel section as shown in Figure 7.

The panel sections are hinged to one another by means of end hinges 8 and intermediate hinges 9. Each end hinge comprises an upper leaf l0 and a lower leaf ll. Each upper leaf IE] is secured to the lower edge of the stile I and adjacent angle bar of one panel section, and the lower leaf II is secured to the upper edge of the stile and angle bar of the adjacent panel section as shown in Figure 1. Each leaf consists of an angle plate having a portion l2 secured to the rear face of the stile l and to the flange 6 of the angle bar by means of screws 13, and having its other portion 14 extending alon the outer edge of the stile and having a flange l5 embedded in a groove or slot [6 in the edge of the stile for securing said leaf to the stile. Upper leaf [0 is formed with a central knuckle H on the lower end thereof and leaf 1 I is provided with two spaced knuckles l8 on the upper end thereof. The knuckles are interlocked and held together by a pintle [9 extending through the knuckles and projecting outwardly from one end thereof. The pintles l9 may also serve as axles for rollers 20 on the hinges at the ends of the panel sections.

The intermediate hinges 9 may be identical and each includes a base 2! and arms 22 projecting perpendicularly therefrom. The arms have openings 23 registering with the corresponding openings of the other hinge section for receiving a hinge spindle 24. The bases 2| of the hinge sections are secured to the flanges of the angle.

bars which lie along the sides of the panel sections with the arms 22 projecting perpendicularly to the plane of the corresponding panel section. The openings 23 are so arranged that when the complemental hinge sections of a hinge are connected by the hinge pintle, the axis of the pintle is approximately in the same plane as the meeting edges of the adjacent sections.

The angle bars with their associated hinges 8 and 9 may be assembled on the panel sections at the factory and the panel sections may b connected together at the site of installation by the simple insertion of the hing pintles.

On the upper rail 2 of the upper panel section A is a bracket 25 adjacent each end thereof for.

supporting the upper axle and roller 25. A plate 26 having an eye portion 26' is fastened to the lower edge of the panel section E at each end thereof for supporting the lowermost axle I and its roller 25. l

In the overhead door proper there is provided an opening 2! which extends across the space between mullions 3 of panel sections C and D and between the panels 5 of the lower panel section E and from the top of panel section C to the bottom of panel section E. This opening is closed by a pass door or wicket door 28 comprising an upper glass panel section 29, an intermediate glass panel section 35 and a lower wooden panel section 3|. I .l The panel sections of the pass door have bars 32 along their upper and lower edges and have mullions 33 along their side edges for supporting the glass and wooden panels. The bars 32 and mullions 33 are separate from the angle bars and mullions 3 of the panel sections of the main door but are aligned with the latter sections and form a; prolongation thereof.

The pass door panel sections 29, 35 and 3t are hinged to each other and to the panel sections of the main door by means of an upper hing 34, intermediate hinges 35, 35 and a lower hinge 35 adjacent the left hand edge and by hinges 3?, 3'1 along the right hand edge of the pass door as viewed in Figure 1.

Intermediate hinges 35, 35 are identical and as shown in Figure 4, each consists of a pair of upper hinge leaves or sections 58 and 39 and a pair of lower hinge leaves or sections 39 and ll hinged together along a vertical axis and along a horizontal axis as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5.

Each of the upper hinge leaves 38 and 35 comprises an. angular plate, one main portion 52 of which has holes 53 and the other secondary portion 56 thereof has holes 45 for receiving fastening members. A central rib or flange 58 is formed on portion Mi and on the lower end of portion 42 is an angular extension 45 formed with an integral knuckle or eye 5!] which is perpendicular 1 to the portion 42 and is offset or disposed to one side of the free edge of said portion. Extension 49 has a hole 5| for receiving a fastening mem ber. Three spaced knuckles 52, 53 and 5d are formed on the free edge of portion it; of hinge leaf 38 as shown in Figure 9 and only two knuckles 55 and 56 on the free edge of portion 44 of hinge leaf 39. These knuckles are interlocked and held together by a hinge pintle 5? whose axis is disposed approximately at the outer face of the doors as shown in Figures 3 and 5.

The lower hinge leaves it and '3! are constructed similarly to the upper leaves 39 and 38; respectively.- That is, leaf 4! is provided with the three knuckles on the free edge of its portion 5 5 and leaf 4!] with two knuckles which interlock and are held in vertical arrangement by a pintle 58. The end knuckles or eyes 55 of the lower hinge leaves 35 and ii, however, are centrally disposed-with. respect to the portions 42 instead 4 of being offset thereto as in the case of the upper hinge leaves 38 and 39 so that they can be aligned and interlocked with the knuckles or eyes 55 of the upper leaves. The adjacent interlocked knuckles or eyes are held together in horizontal arrangement by a bushing 50 extending through them and which has its ends flared or spun over to prevent displacement. The bushing provides a horizontal axis for the interlocking hinge leaves, which lies outwardly of the inner face of the door.

As shown in Figure 1, the upper leaf 38 of the upper hinge 35 is secured to the rear face of the lower end of mullion 3 and to the angle bar of main door panel section C by screws 48 passing through the holes d3, 45 and'5l. The other upper leaf 39 is similarlysecured to the rear face of the adjacent lower end of mullion 33 and bar 32 of pass door panel 29. Lower leaf 40 of said upper hinge 35 is secured to the rear face of the adjacent upper end of mullion 3- and to the angle bar of main door panel section D by screws 46 passing through the holes in said leaf. Lower leaf 4| of said hinge is similarly secured to; the rear face of the adjacent upper end of mullion 33 andbar 32 of pass door panel 30. V

Upper leaves 38 and 39 of the lower hinge 35 are secured to similar lower portions of the adjacent mullion and angle bar portionsof the main door panel section D and passdoor panel 35, and lower leaves 45 and 4I-of said hinge are similarly secured to the upper adjacent ends of the panel section 5 of the lower main door section E and of panel 31 of the pass door and to the adjacent angle bar portions.

The upper hinge 34 consists of a pair of leaves iii and 62 constructed and shaped substantially the same as lower leaves 40 and M of the intermediate hinges 35, 35 but Without theextensions 49 and end knuckles or eyes 59. Leaf 61 is secured to the upper end of the rear face of mullion 3 and to the angle bar of main door panel section 0 by means of screws 43, and leaf- 62 is secured to the upper end of the rear face of the adjacent mullion 33 and bar 32 of pass door panel '29 by similar means. However the ribsor-flanges 48 of the leaves El and 62 seat againstthe mullions ofthe main door panel section C and of the pass door panel 29. p

One of the leaves 6| and 62 is-providedw-ith three knuckles on the edge of its portion 44 similar to the knuckles 5 2, 53 and 54 while' the other leaf has two knuckles similar to knuckles 55 and 58 which inter-lock and are held in vertical arrangement by a pintle 63 as shown in Figure 6.

The bottom hinge 35 comprises a pair of hinge leaves 64 and 55 constructed and secured substantially the same asthe leaves 6| and 6 2: of upper hinge 35. Leaf 54 is fastened to the lower end of the rear face of the left hand panel 5 of the main do'or'panel section E with'its' flange 48 fitted in a groove 66 in the vertical ,e'dgeof the panel 5. Leaf 65 is fastened to thelrear face of the adjacent lower end of the passxd'oor panel 3| with its flange 48 in 'a groove: ST in the vertical edge thereof. One leaf of the bottom hinge is providedwith three knuckles and the other leaf with two knuckles similar to the knucklesof leaves 38 and 39, which knuckles are held together'in vertical arrangement by a hinge pintle 68.

It will be noted that the knuckles and pintles are countersunk in adjacent notched portions formed in the edges of the adjacent mullions and panel sections and that the pin'tles are coaxial inthe respective hinges and disposed approximately along the line of the joint between the main door panel sections and pass door panels connected by the hinges thereby providing vertical axes for swinging the pass door inwardly and outwardly.

Upper and lower hinges 37, 3'! on the free swingingedge of the pass door are identical and each hinge comprises two pairs of hinge leaves, one pair consisting of an upper leaf 69 and a lower leaf l and the other pair consisting of an upper leaf H and a lower leaf (2. Upper leaves 69 and H are similar in construction and each consists of an angle plate, one portion 13 of which has holes 14 for receiving fastening members and the other portion 15 having a fiange it along its free edge. On the lower end of portion 73 is an angular extension 11 with an integral knuckle or eye 18 perpendicular to the portion 73 and offset or disposed to one side of the free edge of said portion. Extension H is provided with a hole 79 for receiving a fastening member.

Lower leaves It and 72 are constructed and secured substantially the same as the upper leaves 69 and H except that the end knuckle or eye 88 of each of said leaves i8 and 12 is disposed centrally of the portion 73 and not offset therefrom so that the knuckles or eyes 18 and 88 may be interlocked and held together in a horizontal arrangement by a bushing 8| passing through them and spun over at its ends to prevent displacement.

As shown in Figure 1, upper leaf 6!) of upper hinge 31 is secured to the rear face of the lower end of mullion 33 and bar 32 of pass door panel 29 by screws 82 passing through the holes M and 19 therein. Portion T of said leaf extends along the end edge of said mullion and has its flange 48 fitted in a groove 83 in said edge. Lower leaf i0 is secured to the rear face of the upper end of mullion 33 of panel 38 and its extension TI is secured to the angle bar 32 of said panel in the same manner as the upper leaf 89.

Upper leaf H is secured to the rear face of the lower end of mullion 3 of main door panel section C by screws 84 passing through the holes 74 and 19 therein. Portion T5 of said leaf extends along the end edge of said mullion and has its flange 48 fitted in a groove 85 in said end edge.

Lower leaf i2 is secured to the rear face of the upper end of mullion 3 of panel section D of the main door and its extension Tl secured to the angle bar of said panel section in the same manner as the upper leaf H.

Upper leaf 69 of the lower hinge 3? is fastened to the lower end of mullion 33 of pass door panel 30 and lower leaf iii to the rear face of the upper adjacent end edge of pass door panel 3! in the same manner as upper leaf 69 and lower leaf 78, respectively, of the upper hinge 31. Upper leaf ll of said lower hinge 37 is fastened to the rear face of the lower end of mullion 3 of main door panel section D, and lower leaf E2 of said lower hinge 3? is fastened to the rear face of the upper adjacent end edge of right hand section 5 of lower panel section E of the main door in the same manner as upper leaf 69 and lower leaf To, respectively.

It will be noted that the upper and lower leaves of each pair are hinged for movement around a horizontal axis but that the pairs of upper and lower leaves are not hinged together for movement around a vertical axis.

The meeting edges of the panels of the pass door and of the main door panel sections are shouldered as indicated at 85 in Figure 3 to make the pass door weatherproof.

In installing the door, a track 86 is mounted at each vertical side of the overhead door opening and includes a vertical leg 81 extending throughout the height of the door opening and a horizontal leg 88 disposed above the door openmg.

The panel sections of the main door may be assembled as described in my Patent 2,134,397.

As usual, the door'will be counterbalanced as by a chain Bil'connected at one end to a bracket (not shown) at the lower end edge of the lower panel section E at each end thereof, which chains pass over corresponding guide rollers 98 and 9! and have their other ends connected to a fixed support 82, for example in a horizontal portion of the corresponding track 86. The rollers 9| float and are connected to the ends of the corresponding tension springs 93, the other ends of which are attached to a fixed support such as the track mounting 94.

By reason of the foregoing construction, the pass door will move vertically and horizontally along with the panel sections of the main door. The pass door can readily swing outwardly and inwardly on its vertical axis when it is desired to provide a small opening yet keep the main door closed. If desired, the pass door may be provided with a handle.

What I claim is:

1. A door structure comprising a main door including a plurality of panel sections with an opening across certain of said panel sections, hinge means connecting adjacent panel sections to move on a horizontal axis, a pass door for said opening having panel sections corresponding to the first-named panel sections and hinges connecting the adjacent panel sections of said pass door on a horizontal axis and for connecting said adjacent panel sections and said first-named panel sections on vertical axes along one: edge of said pass door, each of said hinges including a pair of upper leaves and a pair of lower leaves, one leaf of said upper leaves being secured directly to one of said pass door panel sections on one face of the door, the other leaf of said upper leaves being secured directly to the adjacent corresponding face of the section of said first-named panel sections, one leaf of said lower leaves being secured directly to the adjacent side of the adjacent panel section of said pass door, the other leaf of said lower leaves being secured directly to the adjacent section of one of said first-named sections, said upper leaves having vertically arranged interlocked knuckles at the other face of the door, a hinge pintle fitted In said knuckles, said lower leaves having vertically arranged interlocked knuckles at the second mentioned face of the door and a hinge pintle fitted in said knuckles, said upper leaves and said lower leaves having interlocked knuckles arranged on a horizontal axis at the first-mentioned face of the door and a hinge pintle fitted in said latter knuckles.

2. A door structure comprising a main door including a plurality of panel sections with an opening through certain of said panel sections, hinge means connecting adjacent panel sections for movement on a horizontal axis, a pass door for said opening having panel sections corresponding t the first-named panel sections and hinges connecting the adjacent panel sections of said pass door on horizontal axes and for connecting said adjacent panel sections and said first-named panel sections on vertical axes along one edge of said pass door, each of said hihges' including a first pair and a second pair of leaves, each comprising a main plate portion and a secondary plate portion rigidly connected together in perpendicular relation to each other, the main plat portions of each pair of leaves being hingedly connected on one axis to the corresponding main portions of the other pair and the secondary portions of each pair being hingediy connected together on an axis. perpendicular to the first-mentioned axis, means rigidly connecting said secondary plate portions of the first and second pairs of leaves to the edges of adjacent panel sections of said main door and to the edges of the corresponding sections of the pass door at one side of said pass door' opening, respectively, with the axis of the hinged connection between said secondary plates disposed vertically and approximately at one face of said door, means rigidly connecting said main plate portions of said first and second pairs of leaves to said adjacent panel sections of said main door and to the corresponding sections of said pass door at the opposite face of said door and with the hinged connections between said main plate portions disposed horizontally and outwardly of the second-mentioned face of the door and coaxial with said hinge means.

3. A door structure as defined in claim 2 with the addition of hinges connecting the adjacent panel sections of said pass door along the other edge of said pass door, each of said latter hinges including a pair of leaves each comprising a main plate portion and a secondary plate portion rigidly connected together in perpendicular relation to each other; means rigidly connecting said secndary plate portions of said leaves the edges of adjacent panel sections of the pass door oposite the vertically hinged edges of said pass door panel sections, means rigidly connecting the main plate portions of each of said latter hinges di rectly to said adjacent panel sections" of the pass door at the first-mentioned face of the door, and means hingedly connecting together said main plate portions of each latter hinge on a horizontal axis outwardly of said secondmem tioned face of the door and coaxial with said hinge means.

4. A double axis hinge including a first pair and a second pair of leaves each comprising a main late portion and a secondary plate portion rigid- 1y connected-- together in perpendicular'relation to each other, the main plate portions of each pair of leaves being hingedly connected on one axis to the corresponding main portions of the other pair of leaves and the secondary portions of eachpair being connected together on an axis perpendicular to the first-mentioned axis, and said main and secondary plate portionshaving openings for fastening" elements to secure the hinge to members to be connected by the hinge.

B. REFERENCES CIT-ED The following references are of record the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,956,372 Clark Apr. 24, 1934 1,989,657 McCloud Jan. 29, I935 2,003,008 Perl May' 28, 1-935 

